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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 16, 2017 4:44:50 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2017 4:44:50 GMT -7
She said she had a lot of knew friends and most people from school didn't go to the Daily Prophet. He felt his heart take another hard hit at that. Desirae wanted to work for the Daily Prophet, he suddenly remembered. She asked if he made new friends and he shook his head, "not exactly... I'm not sure I'm the best with people. Especially with friend making," and for the most part, he didn't want to. He didn't know who Elaine was against or not, exactly, so sometimes it was hard to make friends out of fear that she wasn't going to let them live much longer anyway... especially at the ministry. Still, it was kind of nice to pretend that he was friendly, like right now with Jess. This wasn't his normal way of behaving, though. Normally he was much more... quiet. Unless he was having a good time, like he was now.
@jessavette
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 16, 2017 5:59:53 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2017 5:59:53 GMT -7
He was serious again, shaking his head and saying that he wasn’t good with people or making friends. Jess’ eyebrows furrowed for a second, showing her confusion before she shot him a wry smile. ”I’m not quite sure I believe that,” she started. ”You seem to be doing fine with me. Helping me pick my things up again was a good touch too. I’m pretty sure you could have a bunch of friends hanging around you if you helped them out like that,” Jess winked to show she was teasing. A part of her hoped she wasn’t annoying him. She sometimes worried that she had that effect on those around her.
As they neared her building, she looked back over at the guy beside her. ”This is me. I’m on the second floor,” Jess made her way to the metal staircase and started up it, figuring she should lead the way now. Once she made it to her place, she pulled out her wand carefully and tapped it on the handle before turning it and walking in. ”Come on in,” she encouraged with an easy smile, holding the door open with her foot.
@finley
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 16, 2017 7:54:28 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2017 7:54:28 GMT -7
Of course Jess would say he was doing fine and try to encourage him. That was just the kind of thing she did. She winked at him and he chuckled, "I'm afraid I'm not always this helpful," he admitted, even though she was teasing. "But I guess I can't resist a damsel in distress," he joked. He could joke, quite easily actually, if he let himself. And who better to let himself with than Jess? His main companion in the joking world, Desi, was gone. So it felt pretty good to have a laugh again.
Then she said they had made it and Finley looked up, taking in the building for they went inside. Once she opened her door he nodded in thanks, stepping in and standing a few feet inside with the bags at his sides. "Where should I put these?" he asked, turning back to look at her. He was trying not to surgery her apartment too much yet. He wanted to get their business done first, with the bags. Plus she may want him to leave after that, anyway.
@jessavette
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 16, 2017 8:05:24 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2017 8:05:24 GMT -7
He chuckled, his smile reappearing and Jess’ own grin widened. She liked making people smile in general, but she especially enjoyed it with those who didn’t always smile, which seemed to be this guy. She laughed when he joked back with her, ”Well I’m sure I’m not the only damsel out there.” Jess glanced to him again, ”But I really do appreciate your help.”
He walked into her apartment and then Jess let the door close behind them. ”Ummm ... the table right there should be fine. Thanks again,” she gave a soft chuckle. Then she paused, ”Uhh do you want to stay for a bit? I was about to make some lunch and you can join me if you want ... it’s the least I can do to thank you for your help,” she added with another smile.
@finley
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 16, 2017 8:12:03 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2017 8:12:03 GMT -7
She mentioned other damsels and he chuckled again, but it was cut short when she seriously thanked him. He gave another nod, which was kind of his thing, and didn't speak further on the subject. He wasn't sure his mouth was up for working at that moment.
Once inside, she said he could put the stuff on the table. He did, then took out the stuff in his own bag and placed it there as well as she invited him to stay for food. "I... That'd be nice," he said formally, not turning to look at her yet. When the last bottle of ink from his bag was placed down, he turned with a small smile. "I could help you make something. I'm a good cook," he shared. "And I'm Fin, by the way," he finally said. He was doing pretty good at this talking thing! Wasn't that his plan today after all?
@jessavette
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 16, 2017 11:28:38 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2017 11:28:38 GMT -7
Even though she hardly knew anything about the guy with her (really nothing other than the fact that he was nice to her), Jess liked hearing him laugh and seeing him smile. It wasn’t out of character, since she always liked to make people happy, but there was something different about this guy. The intriguing thing was that she had no idea what that was.
He took a bit of time setting her things on her table and Jess blushed a little. She didn’t realize how much of her things he picked up. However, when he agreed to stay, her smile widened. ”Great!” Jess answered cheerily. She noticed him smile as he said he could help and that he was a good cook. ”Sure! What kinds of things do you like to cook!” Jess didn’t know what she was in the mood for so letting him choose what they ate sounded perfect. Her smile widened as he introduced himself. ”Nice to meet you Fin. I’m Jess,” she didn’t even realize he already called her by her name.
@finley
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 16, 2017 12:23:17 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2017 12:23:17 GMT -7
She was being her usually happy self and, for the first time really, he was the receiver of that. It was... Liberating. He grinned, too, shrugging at her questions. "Well, I like pasta... And pies. Mostly pies," he repeated with a short laugh. He made to take of his jacket before stopping. Was that okay for him to do? Yeah. He was staying for a while, so... He took it off. He draped it over his arm as he continued. "Yeah, Jess. I know. We went to school together, actually," he reminded her. His eyes looking for the best place to put his jacket. "I was a Gryffindor a.... Year older than you I think," he knew but there was no reason to get into all that.
@jessavette
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 16, 2017 20:28:53 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2017 20:28:53 GMT -7
His smile. The more he smiled, the more Jess realized she liked it. Well good, since he wasn't really being so tough and serious anymore. Definitely a good thing. He started talking about how he liked pasta and pie and Jess bit her lip before laughing. "Well I think it's safe to say that you're a better cook than me. I'm not really patient enough when it comes to cooking," she thought for a moment, "Both of those sound really good. What kind of pie is your favorite?" She was sure she didn't have the ingredients for pie right now ... but maybe she could invite him back to teach her how to make pie some other time. Then he mentioned that he knew her name and that they went to school together. Wait. He remembered her name from school? And she hadn't even remembered his? Did she even ever learn it? Jess started to feel slightly guilty, but tried to mask it with a soft giggle, "Well that would definitely explain why you look so familiar," her expression grew more serious, "Sorry, I'm a bit forgetful sometimes." Not really, but hopefully he wouldn't know her well enough to know how good she was with people. She felt bad that apparently he knew her and she didn't know him. She noticed him looking around for somewhere to put his coat and she gestured to the couch. "You can put your coat on the couch if you want. Or anywhere, really." Her place wasn't messy, but it wasn't particularly clean either so she wasn't picky about where he set his coat down for a bit.
@finley
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 20, 2017 17:33:07 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2017 17:33:07 GMT -7
She was laughing. Was she laughing at him? His brow furrowed a little until she started speaking again, saying that he was a better cook than she was and speaking of patience. Then it was his turn to laugh a little. "It does take patience," he agreed. He was a very patient person. It made his life a lot easier, because if he was in any kind of hurry then everything with Elaine would already feel like a lost cause. He couldn't stand that and he didn't believe in lost causes. He contemplated her question for a moment before answering, "of the sweet pies I like peach. Savory wise I'd have to go with a classic chicken pot pie with lots of vegetables," he explained, feeling a little more energetic. It was easy to be when he was talking about something he liked, and wasn't that true for anyone?
She said that them having gone to school together explained why he looked so familiar and he nodded, but then shook his head as she apologized, "no, no, please don't worry about it. I wasn't really out there," he admitted. He was pretty quiet and kept to himself when he wasn't sneaking off with Elaine and Des... no, he wasn't really outward about his existence. He was used to staying out of the way, like at home as a kid. But he was around for Jess, often. She just didn't always know he was helping out.
She said he could put his coat anywhere and he moved toward the nearest chair and gently hung his jacket on the back of it. It looked nice there, among her things. He tried not to dwell on that. He looked back at her, "should we put your writing stuff away first?"
@jessavette
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 20, 2017 17:56:57 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2017 17:56:57 GMT -7
He laughed a little in response and Jess beamed at him, liking the way it sounded. She loved making people smile and making them happy, especially in situations where they might feel awkward. "I'm glad you have the patience for it," she answered. Maybe- if he wanted- they could have something good. If she was on her own Jess would probably just eat cereal, because she was lazy and didn't like cooking. "Oooh those both sound really good," she commented. "I don't think I've had fresh pie since Hogwarts," Jess mused thoughtfully. That was strange. Well, not really. She didn't like to cook, so it was her fault and she hadn't visited her parents in a while so ... no fresh food from them either. She pulled herself out of her reverie, looking back at him, "I actually have no idea what all I have here, but I'm pretty sure I have stuff for pasta ... if you want to lead in the cooking it'll probably end up tasting better," she laughed, a little self-consciously. She was inviting a stranger to cook in her house because she wasn't good at cooking. That was kind of embarrassing.
He told her not to worry about not knowing him, but Jess still felt a little guilty. "But ... you knew me. Did we ever do anything together that I forgot about?" She knew it really shouldn't matter, but the fact that he knew her made her feel like she should know him. Should she?
She watched as he put his coat down and then blushed when he asked about her writing stuff. "Oh! Yeah, I guess I should get that stuff put away, huh?" She gave a nervous chuckle. Why was she nervous? "Ummm it just goes over here on my desk," she explained as she grabbed a bag and a handful of the things on the table.
@finley
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 20, 2017 20:21:24 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2017 20:21:24 GMT -7
She said she was glad he had the patience for cooking and her smile was contagious. He was glad, too. She said both of the pies sounded good, claiming that she hadn't had a fresh pie since Hogwarts. "I'll make you one sometime. I have all kinds of supplies at my-" he paused, and cleared his throat, "at my place," he finished. There was no way to cover that up now, especially since he was implying that she come over there sometime. That wouldn't be so bad, right?
She said she had no idea what she had there and he frowned a little, his brow furrowing as he looked to her kitchen, "do you mind me looking around?" he asked, not wanting to just barge in and get comfortable.
Jess was clearly guilty about not recognizing him and he shook his head. "No, no, not really," he answered. They had never actually done anything together. He had just helped her out here and there when he could. Then, she agreed that they should put away her stuff, chuckling nervously. He was getting more comfortable and it seemed she was getting more uncomfortable. He nodded and started to grab some things to move to the desk. He carefully made sure not to read any of the writing found on that desk. He felt that was too personal.
@jessavette
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 20, 2017 20:41:48 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2017 20:41:48 GMT -7
Jess felt excited at the idea of him making her a pie sometime. Did that mean he'd want to spend time with her sometime? Wait ... at his place? Her anticipation at that idea rose. "That sounds delicious, and like it could be fun," she answered, hoping she wasn't reading into things too much. Sometimes she did that. "Would you want to cook for me, or teach me how?" she asked mischievously, smiling over at him.
He got a little more serious when she said she didn't know what she had and then asked if he could look around. She waved her hands in the air in front of her. "Of course! I'm not asking you to be in charge of cooking without seeing what I have," she teased. Then she thought a moment, "Just don't make fun of me for the lack of good food here," she added with a small laugh.
He said they hadn't really done anything together and Jess wasn't exactly sure if he was telling the truth or just trying to make her feel better. Either way it worked and she smiled back at him. Without saying a word, he helped her start to pick up her things, taking them to her desk. "Thanks again, Fin." Jess smiled over at him once everything was moved over. "I really appreciate all your help today."
@finley
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 21, 2017 16:52:02 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2017 16:52:02 GMT -7
She said that it sounded delicious and like it could be fun and he breathed with relief. She was okay with the idea. Good. That was... still pretty nerve wracking, but good. She asked if he wanted to cook for her or teach her how and he smirked a little, too. "I guess I could teach you... but I'd probably just cook for you first so you'd know you're getting lessons from someone with skill," he explained, not even joking about that.
She said he could look around, waving her hands. She was so much more expressive than he was, especially with body language. He nodded to the kitchen, he'd start looking once they put her stuff on her desk. "Do you eat out a lot, then?" he guessed. That was pretty standard for people their age nowadays. Most of her things were put away and she thanked him, but he kept his eyes away from hers for now. "It's no problem. Happy to help," he said in a low voice.
He set down one of the ink bottles and his eyes slipped over a piece of paper with some writing on it. He took in that handwriting and his fingertips lightly brushed the page before he pulled his hand back, quickly, and turned toward the kitchen. He made his way there to start searching through the mostly barren cupboards.
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 21, 2017 17:01:33 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2017 17:01:33 GMT -7
She nodded at his suggestion that maybe he should cook for her first. She was almost certain that she would like his cooking, but tasting it first wouldn't hurt. She gave a teasing shrug, "So will you cooking for me tonight count, or do you want to cook pies for me before you can teach me how?" she couldn't resist, and she was curious. The idea of spending more time with him was definitely appealing to her, so making plans like this was something she was definitely interested in.
He asked if she ate out a lot and Jess smiled again. Her cheeks were starting to hurt with how much she was smiling, but she didn't care. "Sometimes. Unless I'm lazy, then I eat lots of cereal or things that just need to be heated up. Or sandwiches. I go for the simple stuff that's hard to mess up," Jess explained, wondering if he would think less of her for that. "Do you ever eat out?" He finished helping her put away her stuff and Jess followed him back to the kitchen. She figured she should try and help, but she really didn't know what he was looking for yet, which made it hard. She stood by a counter and watched him, while trying to make it look like she wasn't. She needed to find something to do with her hands.
@finley
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last online May 2, 2024 14:35:37 GMT -7
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Oct 21, 2017 17:07:40 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2017 17:07:40 GMT -7
She asked if cooking for her tonight could count, or if he had to do the pies first. "I think... I'll have to have you over for pie," he decided. Of course he did. It was almost as if they were setting up a date... maybe if this meal went well he could actually make that offer. Maybe. He would have to work up the courage for that.
She said she was just lazy and that she ate things that didn't need to really be prepared. Simple things, things that were hard to mess up. She asked if he ever ate out and he shrugged, continuing to look through the cupboards and pulling out things here and there, "I do on my busy days, yes." He was focused at the moment, getting the things he needed. He turned, trying to reach for a certain cupboard but she was right there as his arm lifted toward the cupboard. He looked down at her, blinking.
@jessavette
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